Champions of their respective continents in the northern summer of 2024, Argentina y Spain They will meet next March 27 in Lusail, Qatar, in a ‘Very final‘ which will serve as an appetizer for the 2026 World Cup for two of the great favorites in North America.
The CONMEBOLthe UEFA and the Argentine (AFA) and Spanish (RFEF) federations announced this Thursday the date and city of the fourth edition of this competition.
After two first editions held in 1985 and 1993, held under the name of the Artemio Franchi Cup, the intercontinental duel was resumed in 2022, with Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Italy in the match played at Wembley, London.
The Albiceleste, which had also won the 1993 edition against Denmark, will therefore arrive as defenders of the trophy, three months before putting into play in North America their precious World Cup won exactly three years ago in Qatar.
The match stadium, in Lusail, will be the same one where captain Lionel Messi lifted Argentina’s third World Cup trophy in December 2022.
A year and a half later, the South American team also renewed its continental dominance, beating Colombia 1-0 in the final of the 2024 Copa América, which was played in the United States.
“This emblematic match is more than a competition; it is a symbol of cooperation and respect between confederations, and an opportunity for fans to enjoy a truly historic event,” said Alejandro Domínguez, president of CONMEBOL, quoted in a statement.
Messi vs Yamal final
Opposite will be Spain, which comes to the duel as the leader of the FIFA ranking of national teams (followed by Argentina) and as the current European champion, after having beaten England 2-1 in the final of the Euro 2024, which was played in Germany.
“The Very final brings together two continental champions in one of football’s most prestigious events, highlighting the truly global reach of this sport and the enduring bond between our confederations,” UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said in the statement.
La Roja will play its first Very finalbefore heading to the World Cup USA, Mexico y Canada as one of the great favorites of the World Cup.
One of the main attractions of the duel will be the confrontation on the pitch between the Argentine star Messi and the Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, past and present of FC Barcelona.
Barça’s new ’10’, protagonist of La Roja’s European title, has received comparisons with Messi throughout his young career.
In another statement, the RFEF recalled that both teams come to the match on maximum equality, after having officially faced each other on 14 occasions: 6 wins for each and two draws.
After the draw for the World Cup 2026 held on December 5, Argentina was placed in Group J, along with Algeria, Austria and Jordan, and Spain in Group H, in which it will face Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
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